Letting my broody raise 20 meaties. Now I have a rooster raising 50 CX chicks~new batch!

[PaulaJoAnne]

Quote:
What do they weigh right now? They do have a good growth spirt, and then slow down a bunch. I don't think you would want to keep them much past 10 weeks at the most, because they will just be maintaining at that point.

 

[Dogfish]

The growth between 6 and 8 weeks is impressive.. A pound a week+ is not uncommon based on my first two flocks. They really put away the food before butchering. Feeding mine their "last meal" of corn on the cob tonight.

 

[dacjohns]

I think with free ranging and limited rations as opposed to having feed available all the time the growth will not be as fast.

 

[WizChick]

I love CX's. They are so full of personality and surprisingly tough. I've had a few injuries and 100% survival rate. They seem to love life!

I've raised mine to various ages.
My first couple were raised with my layers and allowed to free range. I enjoyed them so much I wasn't ready to butcher them at 10 weeks. I let them grow until 13 weeks. One bird feed 6 people but it was a bit tough. My next group was raised the same. I butchered them at 10 weeks. They were slightly smaller and more tender. My current CX's have been confined to a small coop and run because my leghorn is mean. They are again a bit smaller then the previous birds. I had to butcher one last weekend that appeared to have a swollen foot and decided to stop moving itself. I'll be doing the rest tomorrow (11 weeks). We'll see. It seems that free ranging grows larger healthier birds. I may have to butcher my leghorn also so I can allow my next group to free range peacefully.

Enjoy yours while you have them. Thanks for sharing your story.

 

[pattgal]

Quote:
What do they weigh right now? They do have a good growth spirt, and then slow down a bunch. I don't think you would want to keep them much past 10 weeks at the most, because they will just be maintaining at that point.

My mother always kept hers for about 10 or 12 weeks. but i would say that is the limit of what you could take them. we got around 8-10 pounds out of them that way. but at that point you have to keep an eye on them because its really their limit before they start going down on their legs

 

[Red&Yellow]

Man, Beekissed, those meaties look SO GOOD!!!!!!

I've never raised meaties, but I've seen so many pictures on here and they are usually freaky and gross and bald. It looks like mama hen and free ranging is the healthiest way for the birds. They almost look like normal chickens!

Thank you for showing the progression. Keep us up-to-date, especially on how their flavor and weight after butchering.

 

[Beekissed]

I will!

I've noticed that they are the last chickens in the coop each night and seem to really enjoy the cool weather we are getting lately. They are out first in the morning in the cool, dewy mornings and stay out in the rain more than my laying flock. I think these birds would make excellent cool climate birds and I hope to raise some this fall also.

They are starting to range farther from their mother and can be pretty speedy when they want by flapping their wings while they run.

By sheer numbers they have come to dominate the main feeding station and now my laying flock stand politely by while the meaties eat first. I've started a new trough and this has eased the push at feeding time. Also, my flock are finding more and more to eat outside and don't seem to really need the laying ration as much right now.

 

[ChikeeMomma]

Quote:
Mine are like this, too. I will be processing mine next Monday (they will be 9 & 10 weeks old). Mine have been out since 2.5 & 3.5 weeks old. They have a large run and free range in the evening. I cannot believe how mobile they are! They are big and yet they run around and try to fly -- they don't get very far/high. I've been raising them will some layers of the same age. I have had a good experience, but they have had enough room to be together. This is my first year with CXs. I fed them 24% non-med game feed from TSC until 5-6 weeks and then switched to the locally mixed feed (I think about 18% protein). They eat all the grass and bugs they want. One thing that I did also, was to throw the feed out into the run rather than in a feeder. If I put feed into a feeder (in the coop) because it's raining, they don't eat that much of it. Outside they eat every last morsel and scratch it around. If I put more feed out and also give them the option of free ranging -- they would rather free range! They are also the last ones in at night. I have really enjoyed these guys! I'll be a little sad to see them go, too.

I've enjoyed this thread, Beekissed!

 

[Beekissed]

Chikeemomma, I am so glad to know that someone else has tried this and had positive results! I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop because this has been such a neat experience and these CX are not at all like people described. They are sweet and are turning out to be very good foragers, very active and are starting to venture out further into the big world with all the big girls. Leaving Mama behind and I don't see her staying with them anymore. They are really adapting well to the foraging life and work real hard at it, especially in the morning and evening.

I keep waiting for them to come up missing because they are the perfect size for a hawk to carry away, they are very visible and slower than the big girls. So far, so good.

I have another broody!!!

Just in time to foster my layer chicks coming on June 7th! God is sure smiling on my chickens this year.

 

[Chicken411]

New pics! Please